Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-04-08
THE HADDOCK TRIAL.
A Resume of This Celebrated Case
As it Transpires From Day
to Day.
Facts Both Pro and Con Impair.
TALLY Given to tho
Public.

It will be remembered that about 10
o'clock on the night of August Sd, 1886,
that the Rev. George G. Haddock was shot
and killed near the corner of Fourth and
Water streets, Sioux City, Iowa, while on
his way from a livery stable TO his home in
another part of the city. 1t was a dreary,
dismal, rainy night, just such a one as
to court q tragedy. Rev. Haddock had been
pronounced and unrelenting enemy of oil
persons directly or indirectly connected
with or favoring saloons, and by his az
~gressive methods and open denunciation of
those not friendly to the Clark law had in
Cured the bitter hostility of many and the
appreciation of few. He was self-reiiant
and seemed to court. the a%ntagonism OF
those whom he sought to bring within the
pale of the law. Though advised to be
cautious, he announced from the pulpit his
fearlessness and ability to care for HIM
self, and in an open manne pursued his
course of sporting" those engaged in the
liquor traffic. Evidently he anticipated an
assault, but not q murder. He was n man
of wonderful vigor md strength and q
most perfect physique, and not unfamiliar
to personal encounters. The night of the
homicide he drove to G%reenville, o snbur-
ban town one mile east, to secure evidence
against certain saloon men. He was &C.
companied by Rev Turner. At this time
the prohibitioie agitation was ut its Knight
and danger walked in the wake of those
seeking the abolition Of a traffic of long
standing. Injunction trials were in prog
ress in the District Court, and Rev. Had
dock was the conspicuous prosecutor as
we'll as witness. A plot was formed to
horsewhip certain witnesses, but it failed
in being carried out. Another conspiracy
was formed to "do up" Rev. Hnddock, but
whether with murderous intent the present
trial will most likely disclose. The evil
dence thus far developed goes to show that
Rev. Haddock, after returning from Green
vile, taking the Rev. Turner home, drove
to Merrillhs livery stable on Water street
and delivered the buggy over to the host
Ter. Not unsuspicious of danger, he asked
the attendant at the stable if any Il had
been there inquiring for him. He received
answer that a party had asked whether the
mustang pony had been returned. (This
was the animal driven by Haddock.) Had
dock then pulled his skull cap down over
his head, buttoned his long gum coat close
to his neck, his heavy whiskers inside, and
walked north to the Columbia House. on
the southwest corner Of Fourth and Water
streets, and then turned east on Fourth.
Several men were visible on the opposite
side of the street. Taking o tirmer
grasp on the long hickory n
which always accompanied him, he
strobe along. The drizzling rain and
occasional rumbling of distant thunder
added to the wierd semi-darkness. When
about two-thirds across the street one Or
mora man nopoo f.opo bo,oofb tbo cha10u,e
Of the high board fence. In a moment the
sharp report of a pistol awoke the echoes
of the night. Rev. Haddock was seen to
stagger, and half fall. then to recover, to
fall to rise no more. The leaden messen-
ger had done its deadly work. Entering
near the left shoulder blade and coursing
upward, it had reached the seat of life
and severed the silver cord and death re-
suited in a few seconds. Near the PROSTATE
form was found the heavy walking stick,
and close ut hand q small iron gear-wheel
fashioned as a slung-shot. The city was
at that time in a feverish state of agitation.
Hardly had the echoes of the pistol shot
ceased to reverberate when tho report
spread like q deadly contagion that a man
had been murdered. A large crowd soon
gathered at the scene of the tragedy, and
surrounded the PROSTATE form, willing
uAAA = oA4C ouNCO4s DuU liz oplIll
had departed. and an inanimate form alone
remained. The body was removed to the
Methodist parsonage, where the c~oroner's
inquest began ut 8 o'clock the following
day, August 4.
Time wore on, other events of an import
ant nature took place and the Haddock
homicide was fast passing into forgetful-
ness. Finally the whereabouts of of Harry
Leavitt were discovered. His confession
followed and it came with all the startling
effect of a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
John Arensdorf, the prisoner now at the
bar, was charged by Leavitt with having
committed the atrocious crime. The al
legged murderer of Rev. George G. Had
dock, and who is now up for trial, is about
forty years of age, and is not q bad nor vi
cious looking man. He is q German of
the dark blonde type, heavy and solid in
physique, and has a not unkindly blue eye
and forid countenance. He has a wife
and seven children. Arensdorf went to
Sioux city from Wisconsin about ten wears
ago to assume the ~foremanship of the
Franz brewery, he being related by mar
riage to Mrs. Franz. When Jacob Franz
died several years ago, the Brewery Com
pany was organized and Arensdorf became
superintendent and stock owner.
We give the foregoing recapitulation of
facts in regard to preceding events, that
our resume of the case may be more readi-
ly understood by our readers.
DAY.
Court convened in Sioux City, Iowa, on
March 23d, 1887, with Judge G. ii. Lewis on
the bench. The counsel for the State is COM
posed of the following named gentlemen:
Hon: N. p o'connell, Of Fort Dodge, States
Attorney Marsh. j.. B.. Hubbard md spauld-
are Judge j. N. Weaver, o. c. Tredway. NJ
M. Gray, Judge Pendleton, W. G. Clark. s. r
Lynn and G. w. Kellogg, of Sioux City, and
g. w. Argo, of LIE Mars. The entire day was
spent in preliminary work and tho impanelling
of jurors.
SECOND DAY.
Court convened at 8 a. M. and work was